Harlem Stage Presents 2018 Fall Performing Arts Season

Harlem Stage, the legendary uptown venue that for over 35 years has promoted the creative legacy of Harlem and artists of color from around the corner and across the globe, is proud to present its Fall 2018 season of performances. The season is curated by Monique Martin, recently appointed Director of Programming for Harlem Stage and features artists who #Disrupt and take creative risk. The performances feature a range of artistic genres, offering audiences the chance to experience legendary performers, as well as rising stars.

Harlem Stage's 2018 fall season will feature a variety of performances, which speak to the creative and uplifting ways in which the performing arts confront and transform the difficult realities of current times.

The season begins with Harlem Stage's Open House event on September 8th, 2018. This free event welcomes all New Yorkers to come and kick off the season with a party that exemplifies the best of the Harlem community. Bring your instruments to join a drum circle, dance the afternoon away in the Gatehouse, take a tour and learn about the history of the venue and preview some of the upcoming season.

Harlem Stage has partnered with Theater of War Productions to present "Antigone in Ferguson," in an unprecedented five-week run of free performances beginning September 13. Conceived in the wake of Michael Brown's death in Ferguson, Missouri, "Antigone in Ferguson" fuses dramatic readings of excerpts from Sophocles' Greek tragedy with live choirs and powerful audience-driven discussions on race and social justice. Each week will feature a different group of actors, choirs and community panelists. Actors include Samira Wiley (Orange is the New Black), Paul Giamatti (Billions), Tamara Tunie (Dietland, Law & Order: SVU) and more. Presented in association with THE OFFICE performing arts + film. Translated and directed by Bryan Doerries, with music composed by Phil Woodmore. This production of Antigone in Ferguson is exclusively supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation whose generous support has made it possible for audiences to experience this critical work, free of charge, at Harlem Stage.

Musical highlights include Grammy nominee Maimouna Youssef aka MuMu Fresh, performing her latest album, "Vintage Babies."

Celebrate #BlackGirlMagic, with an evening full of music and movement, as three incredible female artists known for moving the crowd, bring their artistry together. DJ, percussionist and sound chemist Val Jeanty performs "VodouElectro" with Sirene Dantor Oliyaya Rene, songstress and sanctuary goddess Neycha performs acid hip-hop and dusted soul anthems from her upcoming CD "The Holy Hell of Hope" and YahZarah brings her electric, ceremonial healing powers of song full throttle.

Later in the season, join the Elio Villafranca Afro Caribbean Trio, helmed by Cuban-born pianist and composer Elio Villafranca. Villafranca is a Steinway Artist, Grammy Nominated artist, and the 2014 Jazz at Lincoln Center's Millennium Swing Award recipient.

Closing out the season, catch Weedie Braimah and The Hands of Time with special guests Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah and Pedrito Martinez. Weedie Braimah's percussive orchestra will surely awaken the rhythmic senses and soul of anyone present, as Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah stretches jazz music's rhythmic, melodic and harmonic conventions to encompass a range of cultural influences from his native New Orleans to West Africa and the Caribbean.

"During a time in America and the world in which many of us feel impotent against the oppressive forces of the state, art enables us to respond, to speak truth to power, to resist and to attempt to transform. The time is now and the doors to the Harlem Stage Gatehouse are open" said Patricia Cruz, Executive Director of Harlem Stage.

Monique Martin, Director of Programming, said "This season, Harlem Stage will continue to be a 'Sanctuary Space' for dialogue, bridge building and transcendent theater, music and dance. Artists from down the block, around the way and across the globe will present bespoke programs to ignite our imaginations, pose disrupting questions and ground us in our collective commitment to a world that honors everyone. We look forward to holding space with you and honoring our collective humanity."

TICKETING INFORMATION

Box Office Location: Harlem Stage Gatehouse (150 Convent Avenue at West 135th Street, Manhattan).

Box Office Hours: Regular box office hours are 10AM-3PM Monday through Friday, except on performance days when the box office remains open until one hour after the start of the performance.

By Phone: 212.281.9240 ext. 19

Online: www.HarlemStage.org

ABOUT Harlem Stage

Harlem Stage is the performing arts center that bridges Harlem's cultural legacy to contemporary artists of color and dares to provide the artistic freedom that gives birth to new ideas. For over 35 years Harlem Stage has been one of the nation's leading arts organizations, achieving this distinction through its work with artists of color and by facilitating a productive engagement with the communities it serves through the performing arts. With a long-standing tradition of supporting artists and organizations around the corner and across the globe, Harlem Stage boasts such legendary artists as Harry Belafonte, Max Roach, Sekou Sundiata, Abbey Lincoln, Sonia Sanchez, Eddie Palmieri, Maya Angelou and Tito Puente, as well as contemporary artists like Bill T. Jones, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Tamar-kali, Vijay Iyer, Mike Ladd, Stew, Meshell Ndegeocello, Jason Moran, José James, Nona Hendryx and more. Its education program each year provides over 1,000 New York City children with introduction and access to the rich diversity, excitement and inspiration of the performing arts. In 2006, Harlem Stage opened the landmarked, award-winning Harlem Stage Gatehouse. This once abandoned space, originally a pivotal source for distributing fresh water to New York City, is now a vital source of creativity, ideas and culture. Harlem Stage is a winner of the William Dawson Award for Programming Excellence and Sustained Achievement in Programming (Association of Performing Arts Presenters).

For more information on Harlem Stage, visit: www.harlemstage.org.

For a full list of donors, please visit: https://www.harlemstage.org/support/